Bishop Galantino: Media Manipulated My Remarks

Bishop Nunzio Galantino, who was roundly criticized for appearing to disapprove of those who recite the Rosary outside abortion clinics, has defended his comments, saying he was taken out of context and manipulated by the media.

In an interview in the latest edition of the Italian monthly Sempre, the Secretary of the Italian bishops’ conference (CEI) said the vehemence of the accusations made against him were “an aggression that in reality hurt me."

In May, an interviewer asked the prelate the question: “In recent years, the CEI has invested heavily in the non-negotiable values ​​(life, family, education). The Pope doesn’t care for that expression, you too?”

Bishop Galantino replied: “Let’s think about the sacredness of life. In the past we have focused exclusively on the no to abortion and euthanasia. It cannot be so, in the middle [of these two] there is the existence [of the person] that continuously develops. I do not identify with the expressionless faces of those who recite the Rosary outside the clinics that practice the interruption of a pregnancy [‘l’interruzione della gravidanza’], but with those young people who are opposed to this practice and strive for the quality of life of the people, for their right to health, to work.”

The bishop now tells Sempre the reaction was a misunderstanding due to media manipulation.

“The interview in question was born in a specific context: the influence of social media,” he says. “On that occasion I said we should be careful, especially with television, in which only images are used that help to support personal theories. I gave as an example those that focus on the most inexpressive faces of [persons] praying the Rosary against abortion in front of clinics."

He added it is a media method that “intends to belittle not only the Rosary prayed in front of a clinic, but also the great and extraordinary movement that is behind it.” It was, he maintains, an admonition to be on guard against similar manipulation. Therefore, the interview’s statement, taken out of context, was the source of the misunderstanding.

“Sometimes the exponents of certain movements of ours don’t read the whole interview, but only the headline of the newspaper, which obviously is especially interested in choosing only an expression that scandalizes and causes problems. This is how 10,000 Tweets begin or 15,000 posted on Facebook against Bishop Galantino,” he explained.

In the context of the criticisms leveled against him, CEI’s Secretary said he was “struck” by the malice of certain persons who say they pray the Rosary. "It is worrying to know that one who prays the Rosary is then capable of expressing himself in these tones, with this verbal violence,” he said.

But the bishop’s defense of his comments hasn't satisfied everyone. Vaticanista Marco Tosatti says that reading through the interview, there doesn’t appear to be anything about social media or television. The bishop, he says, is playing the “old game” of saying it’s “always the fault of journalists” and his defense is “full of holes.”

It's conceivable that those parts may have been omitted from the final published interview. We’d like to verify the bishop’s remarks, but unfortunately after trying for an interview since the end of May – and being promised one by his office – Bishop Galantino has yet to speak to us.

Comments

Ruthann,
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Of course we need God. Our efforts never diminish that fact. As with so many things, it is both/and, not either/or. God’s grace does supply all our needs. God requires our cooperation. We ought to work WITH God’s grace, not AGAINST it. He’s actually doing US the favor by letting us help. It’s not as if God couldn’t do it without us. But so often He decides to give us the opportunity to grow in virtue by “helping”.
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It reminds me of when I was a little girl, and I “helped” my mom bake a cake. She could have done it much better without my help, but she let me help anyway. And then, she needed my “help” to clean up the mess I made.
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The idea that our presence in front of abortion clinics deters some women from having abortions doesn’t mean that we don’t need God. Of course we do. And I don’t have to “believe” that our prayer and presence makes a difference and lives are saved. I’ve seen it. It isn’t either/or. It’s both/and. Why, we wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for God.
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The necessity of taking ANY kind of action is part of fulfilling our responsibility. My friend could pray that she will quickly recover from her surgery, and of course she does, but that does not eliminate the need for her to follow the doctor’s advice about going through the therapy she will need to fully recover after the surgery. Taking the actions of going to the doctor and the therapist doesn’t mean we don’t need God.
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Also, Casting Crowns, I agree with you about Catholics who actually foster the culture of death with their votes. We should NEVER vote for a pro-abortion candidate. You’re right. Catholic Answers actually has a Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics that talks about this.
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God Bless you.

Posted by Ruthann on Tuesday, Jul 29, 2014 1:34 AM (EST):

Dear Betty, Thank you for asking God’s blessing for me. I ask that He also bless you.

What bothers me is this: If we believe our presence in front of abortion clinics will deter women from getting abortions and even stop abortions, we’re putting our faith in ourselves—-and we really don’t need God—-do we?

Posted by Casting Crowns on Monday, Jul 28, 2014 7:00 PM (EST):

@Gary O. I appreciate that might be true re *your* own experience. My experience on Pro-Life walks is that non Catholics do not join in with the Rosary since they do not share in the entirety of Marian Catholic teaching. Thus, I have seen a awkwardness of unity between Catholics and Protestants when the Rosary is recited. That’s what I am pointing out.

Posted by Gary O on Monday, Jul 28, 2014 5:57 PM (EST):

@Casting Crowns, I don’t know where you get the idea that Catholics only pray the Rosary in front abortion clinics. We spend three to four hours at PPH every Wednesday. It only takes 20 minutes to pray the Rosary. Also I’ve never experienced any other Christian feeling left out because we were there.

Posted by Casting Crowns on Sunday, Jul 27, 2014 10:18 AM (EST):

@Patty Bennett: [“The fact that this slaughter is “legal” means nothing. It makes it much harder to stop, but it gives us no excuse to accept it.”].—
Very true. It also “makes it much harder to stop” when Catholic Bishops give a pass to Catholic politicians unwilling to stand for righteousness. It also “makes it much harder to stop” when Catholic voters keep electing these same people to office.

Posted by Patty Bennett on Saturday, Jul 26, 2014 11:05 PM (EST):

I have been many times praying at the abortion mills. Our prayer and presence is much more than a mere protest. Many children’s lives have been saved when distraught women changed their minds at the last minute and decided to spare their baby’s life. We offer REAL help, not the false “solution” of abortion.
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We are not there to cause these women additional stress; on the contrary. Those who change their minds are SPARED the stress, agony and grief of post-abortion syndrome. You correctly point out that Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery. He also saved her life. He prevented those stones from being thrown, and the Pharisees must have been extremely humiliated by it all. We must not think that following Jesus requires us to limit ourselves to pleasantries. The money-changers in the temple were quite shocked when Jesus very forcefully drove them out.
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The fact that this slaughter is “legal” means nothing. It makes it much harder to stop, but it gives us no excuse to accept it. Many wicked and evil things have been declared “legal” throughout history.
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Education has saved many lives. Crisis pregnancy centers have saved many lives. Adoption has saved many lives. Financial contributions have saved many lives. Exposing the gruesome evil done at abortion mills has saved many lives. (It’s not pleasant. Think “Gosnell”. But the abortion mills that have been closed testify to the fact that it’s worth the effort it takes to expose the evil.) Peaceful prayer and presence and rescues at the abortion mills have saved many lives. There are MANY ways to help. Bickering among ourselves isn’t one of them. We must all commit to do something to help stop the slaughter of the innocents.
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That being said, I do agree that we shouldn’t try to force our favorite type of prayer upon each other, and of course, we should give the Bishop the benefit of the doubt. It is foolish to be hypercritical of him. We’ve all seen so many things taken out of context in the media. It’s best to just pray for the bishop, and not get so distracted and agitated about what’s on the news. (We all know much of it isn’t even true.)
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As to why God has not stopped the scourge of abortion yet, we are far too limited to understand all of God’s ways. But we mustn’t let that fact cause despair. As Blessed Mother Teresa has said: “God has not called us to be successful, but He has called us to be faithful.” Mother Teresa did not eliminate poverty, but she gave the love of Jesus to those souls that God put in her path. One at a time. That is what God called her to do, and in doing God’s will in her life, she did far more good than anyone could have imagined. We must do what we can, following Christ, and trust that the results are in His hands, and in His time.
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God bless you.

Posted by Ruthann on Saturday, Jul 26, 2014 1:17 AM (EST):

We’re not lemmings—-we’re human beings. Why are you attempting to destroy the Bishop’s reputation—-is that Catholic or Christian? Why do you automatically think the Bishop and all Catholics are supposed to support congregating outside abortion clinics? Do you think those prayers are better—-just as some Catholics actually think using a rosary with certain colored beads is better than prayers on a seed rosary or one with clear beads?
Millions of pro-life Catholics do their praying in private or in God’s Churches. God hears all prayers—-regardless of who is saying them or where.
I submit that our presence outside abortion clinics probably makes the opposition more determined. Abortion is a law in this nation. Every person who goes in or out of abortion clinics is within the law. The only way to stop abortion is to go before the U. S.Supreme Court with the proper arguments and reverse Roe v. Wade.

I can think of some good arguments against praying on public streets. Christ told us not to do it. Do we have to prove to pregnant women who are already stressed that we that we know better? Our presence there is a public condemnation of abortion and therefore, of the women who go in and out of the clinics practicing abortion. Do you remember the woman caught in adultery who was brought before Jesus? He bent over, wrote something in the sand, and said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” God loves all of his chldren equally—-saints and sinners.
Abortion is a sin—-a crime against humanity—-but, if Cathlics had to face such visible opposition each time they walked into their churches, they would call it persecution.
We know that abortion is an abomination in the eyes of God. If praying in front of abortion clinics is the right thing to do to stop abortion, can any of you explain why in 40-41 years, God hasn’t acted?

Posted by Casting Crowns on Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 12:38 AM (EST):

@John Copple: [“To pray the Rosary anywhere is a wonderful gift of God.]—
Incorrect. When you dominate a Pro-Life walk and takeover with the Rosary, you are disrespectful to other Christians present who are not Catholic. A Pro-Life walk is not an exclusively Catholic-only event.

Posted by John Copple on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 6:16 PM (EST):

To pray the Rosary anywhere is a wonderful gift of God. The Blessed Mother in her 15 promises said a lot about the devotion of the faithful and the rewards for saying the Rosary.

Posted by mrscracker on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 3:27 PM (EST):

Casting Crowns
“Perhaps not in our lifetime, but one day our own Catholic Priests and Protestant Ministers might be arrested for “Hate Speech” when they, too, preach anything concerning sin from God’s word.”
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It’s coming close to that in the UK.

Posted by Casting Crowns on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 3:19 PM (EST):

@mrscracker and GregB: Christianity itself is becoming more marginalized in the culture by forces within the Federal, State and even by Local government. The removal of any vestige of Christianity from the public square has been occurring for quite some time by calculation starting with banning prayer in school. Even up to the 1950’s, the Bible was used as a textbook in public schools. Accelerating the erosion of religious rights by hostile liberals on local school boards have only exacerbated the problem. Christmas Carols are now “Winter” Carols and Christmas parties have become “Holiday” parties. Of course, they will use subterfuge by saying “We do not wish to offend our non-Christian students” at graduation, HS football games, etc., while at the same time allowing Islamic cultural events at school all in the interest of “diversity.” School boards have even scheduled visitors from the LGBT community to speak to young students in the name of “diversity” regardless of whether Christian parents may not wish for their children to attend. When you show up at School Board meetings to object to the new “agenda” you will be tarred as a “Hater, a “Homophobe” and a Neanderthal. When you mention biblical values or our Christian heritage, you will (in polite terms) be called a Bible thumper or fundamentalist because our heritage was a time of Christian white racist slave owners.—
You can’t really argue with these people. They are bent on ridding any vestige of Christianity from public life in an effort pursue humanism. They have no sense of God, no desire for God and no fear of God. They do, however, all have in common a hostility of God. This is the natural state of man absent of one being Spirit-filled that Paul’s NT letters so eloquently tell us about. In Canada, religious broadcasts are outlawed from allowing any sermons or preaching in which homosexuality is considered morally and biblically wrong. Such a TV or radio station can be fined and lose their broadcasting license.—
Perhaps not in our lifetime, but one day our own Catholic Priests and Protestant Ministers might be arrested for “Hate Speech” when they, too, preach anything concerning sin from God’s word.

Posted by GregB on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 2:16 PM (EST):

@ mrscracker & Casting Crowns:
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I think that a lot of what the secular media are doing is part of an effort to turn freedom of religion into freedom of worship. There are those who would like to block people expressing religious views from having access to the public square, and keep them boxed up in their sanctuaries.
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@ mrscracker wrote:
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There’s a kind of scary, vengefulness involved in current politics that I find disturbing.
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Yes, it is disturbing. It reminds me of the behavior of those who led the French and Russian Revolutions, which turned quite bloody, and ended in dictatorships. Both revolutions practiced the suppression of religion.

Posted by mrscracker on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 1:35 PM (EST):

Casting Crowns,
Thanks.That’s a sad statistic about the media.
These days there are folks who scan the internet constantly watching for any clergy or conservative to slip up so they can pounce on it & use it to destroy their public image. I suppose that could happen on the other side as well, but most conservative folk I know are far less tech savvy & less driven.There’s a kind of scary, vengefulness involved in current politics that I find disturbing.That energy could be turned to more positive outlets.

Posted by Casting Crowns on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 12:19 PM (EST):

@mrscracker: Your comment reflects Paul’s writing to the church at Rome in Romans 8:7-8.

“because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”—
Since polling indicates 87% of the media are unchurched, they are only doing what comes naturally. The “natural” disposition of man is hostile to God until the Spirit comes to dwell within.

Posted by mrscracker on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 11:38 AM (EST):

Patty Bennett ,
Yes, it’s pretty hard to win with a hostile press, but we still could be a bit smarter.“Wise as a serpent, etc…”
Mr. Akin continues to give them ammunition.

Posted by Patty Bennett on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 11:05 AM (EST):

Sometimes the media is not only misinformed, but downright HOSTILE.
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I’m sure everyone remembers the political and media frenzy surrounding Todd Akin’s comments from several years ago. He was asked if he would make an exception to his pro-life stand in the case of rape. To his credit, he has always been pro-life. This has nothing DIRECTLY to do with the Catholic Church, (Todd is Presbyterian, but media is very hostile to the life issues, too) but it does illustrate how the media pounces on one or two words out of context and runs with it to fit their own agenda.
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We were told that politicians MUST BE PREPARED to speak to the media; that they must answer all the “gotcha” questions better. That would surely protect them. Not so fast.
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Even many pro-life people criticized Akin for not explaining it better. Would that have helped? I don’t think so. Two days later, Richard Mourdock, another pro-life candidate for Senate from Indiana, was asked the same “gotcha” question. Mourdock was prepared, especially considering the media fire-storm going on at the time. He responded beautifully, and the media STILL insisted on getting it wrong. Mourdock pointed out that all life is precious and created by God, even when that life begins in the tragic context of a rape. Even though rape is evil, it cannot be undone, and is only made worse by adding the tragedy of abortion. We must do what is right for the mother AND her baby. ALL LIFE is a gift from God.
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The media went ballistic, claiming that “Mourdock thinks God is a rapist!”
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If the hypocritical Pharisees deliberately misunderstood Jesus, who spoke EVERYTHING PERFECTLY, who are we to think we can avoid being misunderstood?

Posted by Casting Crowns on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 10:49 AM (EST):

@ANNE: [“They should always check their speech for conformance to the “Bible” and “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” beforehand.”]
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Precisely. And yes, [“if they do not want to be misquoted, or misinterpreted they must have copies of their PREPARED speech to hand out to all interested media.”]
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This is why the Vatican is always operating like they’re stuck in the 1950’s and having to do damage control. Pope Francis is hardly media savvy. Every time he speaks, 6 other clergy have to step in and say “Well, what the Pope REALLY meant was . . . “

Posted by ANNE on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 9:54 AM (EST):

Whether it be Pope Francis or any Bishop -
if they do not want to be misquoted, or misinterpreted -
they must have copies of their PREPARED speech to hand out to all interested media.
And read their prepared speech as written.
This is called working with a diverse media #101.
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They should always check their speech for conformance to the “Bible” and “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” beforehand.
Lest their be Scandal.
__________________________________

Posted by mrscracker on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 8:50 AM (EST):

TLB ,
Much of the media does have an agenda at odds with the Catholic Church.I trust little of what I see in the mainstream media.Even less when it concerns the Church & has been through translations.

Posted by Terah James on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 5:57 PM (EST):

Those “non-negotiable’s” were excellent. They taught right from wrong.

Would it be possible to open an office at the Vatican, for the sole purpose of one to three Scripture scholars to write a reflection (about 15 to 20 minutes long) about the three readings that we have every Sunday, and then the Vatican can disseminate it to each diocese in the world, and each diocese can disseminate it to each parish, so that every Sunday Mass going Catholic can be on the same page, learning God’s inspired word, in the same way and on the same weekend?

It could be like this for one year, as a trial - that’s 52 teachings, and the teachings, when applied to our lives, would be ‘non-negotiable’.

When each of us dies, and we face Jesus, face to Face, it are the non-negotiable’s in His word about which we will answer. It would behoove all of us to know what God’s inspired word says about matters of our lives, and when we are all aware of The Truth, then media manipulation would be a non-issue.

I am as a rule, in favor of CLOSING many of the Vatican offices, and just concentrating on what is important. THIS is important. Picture it: a Vatican TEACHING office, with the goal of just opening up the truths of the Sunday readings for Catholics to be taught, by their parish priests, and we’d all be on the same page at the same time.

It would give priests a break from having to prepare a homily. NO adding or subtracting from what the Vatican prepares. No ad-libs. No editing.
No editorializing. Just read the teaching, and stand by it: non-negotiable. We’d see who was a faithful church teacher. Weed out those that are loose canons and those Catholics that are Catholic in name only. Like last Sunday’s Gospel reading. The Weeds and the Wheat.

Posted by TLB on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 5:35 PM (EST):

The media is not to be trusted, this is true, but this seems to be the mantra of our clergy when they’ve said something controversial. ‘It’s the media’s fault.’ Hey, if it works…....

Posted by joe on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 4:58 PM (EST):

This Bishop still hangs himself; he has not corrected his negative connotative statement when he said: “the inexpressionless faces of those who pray the Rosary outside abortion clinics.” He doesn’t have a good understanding or command of the English Language to realize what he is properly saying or means to say positively, give him the benefit of the doubt, just like the Pope. Both should study English; both, in the meantime, should keep their mouths SHUT. Horrible ramifications that come out of the Pope and Bishop Nunzio and Bishop Kasper. Bishops are not on the same page; we are seeing this sadly.

Posted by St Donatus on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 1:50 PM (EST):

Thankfully this Bishop has backtracked and taken back his words. Good. Perhaps he has learned to hold his tongue a little. In reading his words, whether he meant to say it or not, it was very poorly said. Quote:

Question: In the past years the CEI put a lot into the non-negotiable values (life, family, education). The Pope isn’t very fond of this expression. What about yourself?

Answer: “Let’s think about the sacredness of life. In the past we concentrated exclusively on the ‘no’ to abortion and euthanasia. It cannot be like this, in the middle there is an ‘existence’ which develops. I don’t identify myself with the expressionless faces of those who recite the Rosary outside the clinics where the interruption of pregnancy is practiced, but with those young people who are opposed to this practice and struggle for the quality of life for people, for their right to health and work.”

Is it ‘interruption of pregnancy’ or killing babies?

It appears to me that he sounds like Nancy Pelosi who says things like she is personally ‘opposed to this practice’ of ‘interruption of pregnancy’ but struggles for the quality of life for people, for their right to health and work.

Sadly, the original interview will have many negative effects on thousands of people. Many will use it as an excuse to look at abortion as simply in the Bishops words, an ‘interruption of pregnancy’ and perhaps have one. Others, like myself will loose their incentive to fight against one more ever growing evil in this modern age.

There have been several Church leaders who have made similar comments in the last year or so. These comments remind me of the comments of the 1960s to 1980s that created a spiritual deadening in many Catholics.

I will now allow these types of comments to dishearten me. I will just focus my efforts in trying to help increase the faith of my fellow Catholics and draw people to the faith and lives blessed by God’s grace.

We are all part of the body of Christ, each has their own talents, each has a different way that leads them to greater faith. There are those who have the time and desire to try to stop this terrible plague. We need to stand against all evil and use every weapon we have available to us. Prayer is one of the most powerful of these weapons.

Posted by Casting Crowns on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 11:03 AM (EST):

@rod: What’s wrong with you, -and those of like mind? Now you’re saying clergy cannot *really* be Pro Life if they haven’t said the TLM? That’s outrageous. You do understand why Jesus had so many problems with the (legalist) Pharisees, don’t you?

Posted by rod on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 9:37 AM (EST):

His excuse is not very convincing… all one needs to do is look at his track record. Is he a part supporter of the pro-life movement? Does he pray the rosary publically? Has he ever said the traditional Latin mass? If he has done these things, perhaps we can believe he was manipulated. Otherwise he is simply a modernist that has overplayed his cards and is now backtracking.

Posted by mrscracker on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 9:16 AM (EST):

Short history lesson link:

http://www.creekranch.net/blog/florida-crackers/

Posted by mrscracker on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 9:03 AM (EST):

Tom,
It’s only a slur word if you choose to use it that way & are uninformed of the meaning.

Posted by Tom on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 8:25 AM (EST):

Quoting D. Link: “One of our stand-by missions at the time was to be ready to go knock some cracker heads…”

I understand that the bishop is saying that praying the rosary alone will not be enough but must do more viz: “strive for the quality of life of the people, for their right to health, to work.”
I feel the bishop expressed it badly.

Posted by mrscracker on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2014 7:59 AM (EST):

Donald Link:
“One of our stand-by missions at the time was to be ready to go knock some cracker heads…”
********************
???

Posted by Casting Crowns on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 11:16 PM (EST):

@GregB: What you describe is part of the larger problem of sharing the gospel. “He who has ears, let him hear.” Jesus preached the gospel, but didn’t beat people to death with it or waste time arguing about it. Paul further discusses this in Romans. Men and women are not predisposed to hearing God’s truth on their own but by the grace of God only. We should not expect unbelievers to accept the Christian/biblical view absent of the Holy Spirit. This applies to people going into a clinic or sitting on the Supreme Court. This doesn’t mean we should stop sharing the word, though. We are only called to obedience. We are not responsible for the results. He is.

Posted by GregB on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 11:09 PM (EST):

P.S. My posting is in response to Donald Link.

Posted by GregB on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 11:02 PM (EST):

Are you saying that religion played no role in the Civil Rights Movement? The speeches I posted would indicate otherwise.
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It would be nice to be able to use arguments like natural law and human rights, but we live in an era of moral relativism, where there is a rejection of any external truth with which to reference any attempt at a public discussion. We pretty much live in an era of philosophical and moral scorched earth. Many of the more important decisions on life issues are made by unelected judges. Any work that the pro-life movement tries to do in the political arena can be put on the scrap pile by the courts. The U.S. Constitution as written makes it difficult to enact an amendment. However, a so-called living constitution can in effect be amended by the courts. And I haven’t even touched on the areas of executive orders and government agency regulations. Pro-life in most cases is up against forces for whom the ends justify any and all means necessary to procure victory. Under these circumstances, on what basis am I to place faith in the world and the works of man?

Posted by Patty Bennett on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 10:40 PM (EST):

I didn’t hear what the bishop said, but I think it would be good if we all gave him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s take this as an opportunity to pray for him.
We don’t need any more division than necessary in the pro-life movement.
I have no trouble believing that the media took something a bishop said OUT OF CONTEXT. I’d have trouble believing that the media could report a bishop’s words CORRECTLY. It seems like the “news” is less about information, and more about sensationalism.

Posted by Casting Crowns on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 10:36 PM (EST):

The Bishop has a point. How often do we only see local TV crews videoing people praying the Rosary rather than exchanging purposeful and well meaning dialog with the opposition or with those attempting to enter the clinic?

Furthermore, Pro life people are not exclusive to only Catholics who assemble but also include many Protestants and Evangelicals. When priests or nuns begin to dominate and command leadership of the march or walk and begin the Rosary, those are not Catholic are often meant to feel alienated. It’s about time we realize the Pro life movement is not owned by the Catholic church. Be respectful of other Christians there seeking the same end to abortion.

Posted by Vance on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 10:03 PM (EST):

Here we go again. Aka Bishop Galantino needs to be doing something else with his time. I pray that God will give him a ‘Pink Slip’ and line him up with another job. He and like minded Bishops and clergy is why our nation and the Western World is in moral meltdown.

Posted by Donald Link on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 6:34 PM (EST):

@GregB. Thanks for your well meaning but obviously ill-informed comment. Don’t need to review the civil rights movement; I lived it in Alabama where I was stationed with the US Army for five years. One of our stand-by missions at the time was to be ready to go knock some cracker heads, a la Little Rock, AR, if necessary. If the movement had been a strictly black religious affair, it never would have progressed. There were simply not enough people in the country at that time who had an interest on that basis. Similarly today, if you rely ONLY on rosaries and prayer chants in front of abortion clinics you will be regarded much the same as Carrie Nation rampaging in a Kansas saloon. God expects us to use a modicum of the sense and judgement He gave us when pursuing moral ends in an immoral world. Unlike the pagan ancients, we should not expect to rely on lightning from the sky to provide the means of persuasion.

Posted by GregB on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 5:43 PM (EST):

@ Donald Link:
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I think that you might want to do a review of the Civil Rights Movement. I see a lot of sanitization of the movement when it comes to religion. It always Dr. King this and Dr. King that, even religious publications do this. One would have to wonder if Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. ever existed. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. is what is carved on his tomb. There is a photo of it at:
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.,_National_Historic_Site
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Page down until you get to the section titled King Center. The photo is on the right side of the page. You can click on it to see an enlargement of the image.
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You might want to read Rev. King’s “I have a Dream” speech where he makes multiple references to God. You can find a copy at:
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3170387.stm
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There is clear Biblical imagery in his final, prophetic speech at Memphis. You can find a text copy at:
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http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm
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I have participated in many pro-life Life Chains over the years. Here is a link to a Life Chain Code of Conduct:
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http://lifechain.net/LifeChainCodeOfConduct.pdf
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I’ve also done some protesting in front of an abortion clinic. The pro-choice passersby on the road really know their cuss words, and hand gestures.
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I think that it is very understandable why those who are pro-choice chant slogans against the Rosary. In the Annunciation Mary said yes to her unplanned pregnancy. In the Visitation St. John the Baptist is said to have leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb, and is supposed to have been cleansed from original sin and filled with the grace of God. This suggests that there is meaningful life in the womb.

Posted by Kristen on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 4:47 PM (EST):

The Rosary is a very powerful prayer. Only God knows how many babies have been saved because of the prayers of the Rosary. I believe it is the prayers that make what the sidewalk councilors say so effective. And perhaps they look expressionless because they are trying to stay focused on their prayers.

Posted by mrscracker on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 3:06 PM (EST):

Donald Link,
That’s a very good point.
Abortion is foremost a human rights issue. Until we can present it that way, it will continue to be difficult to engage folks from all walks of life.
I’m tired of people trying to blow it off as a narrow, religious concern.As you mention, clergy were involved in the civil rights movement, but secular folk as well.

Posted by Bob March on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 11:35 AM (EST):

I sympathize with Bishop Galantino’s challenge in talking with a hostile media, but when you know your interviewer is hostile, you cope by making only very clear and very concise statements. That’s basic PR. You don’t speak in the same pallid ambiguities that pass for wisdom at the podium of many bishops’ conferences. He should know that, and if he can’t learn to do it, he should be given another assignment that he can carry out better. But even granting his complaints, his explanation of the supposedly distorted context isn’t convincing. And for whom does he reserve his strongest disapproval? Not the media who allegedly misrepresented him, but the many good pro-life Catholics who were undercut by his ill-considered remarks.

Posted by Tom Byrne on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 10:53 AM (EST):

The fight for life, like WWII, is a multi-front and multi-theater war and those engaged with one set of tactics in one place should not presume the same tactics would work equally well elsewhere, nor should they so quickly condemn those who employ different means in different circumstances. Italian culture is overwhelmingly Catholic (and even Italian atheists are probably cultural Catholics, as Belloc used to say of the French), so the Rosary might not strike an Italian as “denominational” in a way it might strike an average American. It would also be much better if internal pro-life controversies were conducted less publicly. Patton and Montgomery didn’t do that.

Posted by Donald Link on Monday, Jul 21, 2014 10:30 AM (EST):

Regardless of what the good bishop actually said, if one is trying to reach a broad audiance, especially in front of an abortion clinic, it might be wise to forego the denominational praying and concentrate on the pure fact that lives are being destroyed. It is easy to dismiss demonstrators if they appear to be tied solely to denominational interests rather than to the broad base of fact. This is the lesson learned by those in the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. There was no shortage of clergy in the movement nor in the marches but the emphasis was on the natural rights and equality of all men.

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About Edward Pentin

Edward Pentin began reporting on the Pope and the Vatican with Vatican Radio before moving on to become the Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Register. He has also reported on the Holy See and the Catholic Church for a number of other publications including Newsweek, Newsmax,Zenit, The Catholic Herald, and The Holy Land Review, a Franciscan publication specializing in the Church and the Middle East. Follow on Twitter @edwardpentin